Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

The Power of the Dog Blu-ray Movie Review

Big Sky blues.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III October 28, 2022

Based on Thomas Savage's 1967 novel -- which author Annie Proulx cited as a major influence for her 1997 short story Brokeback Mountain -- Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog is a slow-burn revisionist Western about love, hate, and loneliness. Set in Montana circa 1925, wealthy brothers Phil and George Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch and Jesse Plemons) tend their ranch in Montana but have a strained relationship. Phil is harsh and reclusive, often insulting his overweight brother while soft-spoken George, often out on business during the day, mostly brushes off Phil's words. During a dinner with George and their ranch hands after a cattle drive, Phil degrades hostess Rose (Kirsten Dunst) and her effeminate teenage son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee), though George at least attempts to apologize for his brother's behavior. It's not long before George takes a liking to Rose and they're soon married, but this shared commitment only angers Phil more: he's convinced the former widow only wants in on the family fortune and feels she's done a poor job teaching wafer-thin Peter, an aspiring doctor and creative type, how to be "a real man".

Personal rivalry is at the core of The Power of the Dog, and it's easy to see why almost every drop of dramatic friction somehow involves Phil: he's cruel and indignant towards almost everyone except for (a) his men and (b) the memory of mentor Bronco Henry, who taught him how to ride. He lacks empathy and has a hot temper, openly mocking weaker folks and even publicly shaming them, like pressuring Rose to play the piano for invited houseguests in light of his own more accomplished skill on the banjo. (Not that The Power of the Dog has any real similarities to Deliverance beyond the superficial, but its infamous dual is more or less spiritually recreated in one scene.) Phil's men unsurprisingly follow his lead by taunting Peter, even scaring him one morning during a riding session. But it's not long before this bullying of the young teenager, largely stemming from his slim frame and traditionally feminine interests, wholly intersects with the predictable revelation that Phil is pushing back latent homosexual feelings hard, a notion later cemented when Peter discovers a number of revealing publications buried near Phil's secluded retreat nearby.

The Power of the Dog thankfully doesn't cross over into forbidden territory between the two; instead, there's a platonic shift in Phil's behavior that leads to his attempt at a father-son type bond. We don't know if he's serious or if this is a slow build-up to yet another act of cruelty, and it's here where Campion's film manages to generate the most intrigue. (Both are fatherless, so it's certainly a logical entry point for common ground.) Yet much of the film, which runs for a fairly drawn-out 126 minutes, moves at a slower and less engaging pace. I did care for its characters and, if nothing else, the fact that The Power of the Dog gets more interesting as it progresses certainly works in the film's favor. But I wouldn't blame anyone for tuning this one out during the first half: it's dramatically inert at times and, despite the solid acting all around, doesn't make an airtight case to retain viewer interest at a high level. Phil's mainly just a big jackass for awhile, which makes this opening stretch of The Power of the Dog more an exercise in patience.

Featuring a decent but kind of hit-or-miss original score from the usually dependable Jonny Greenwood, The Power of the Dog is nonetheless a pretty captivating film once it gets going. I can't say I was completely swayed by its charms and certainly don't agree it belonged in this year's crop of Best Picture nominees, but it may gain more traction upon repeat viewings. One thing's for sure: The Power of the Dog fits more snugly within the safe walls of The Criterion Collection than its own home at Netflix, where countless Joe Six-Packs probably watched all of fifteen minutes before realizing it wasn't anything like Tombstone. Criterion's Blu-ray edition, available on its own here or as part of their 4K combo pack, offers fairly solid A/V merits and a nice selection of cast and crew-led bonus features.

For a slightly more positive take on the film, please see Brian Orndorf's theatrical review.

The Power of the Dog Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a downscaled 1080p presentation of true 4K source material (let alone squeezed on a disc with roughly half the storage space), Criterion's Blu-ray edition of The Power of the Dog surprisingly holds its own against their UHD counterpart. Part of the reason is because the film was mostly shot in dimly-lit interiors and features a fairly drab, earth-toned palette that doesn't immediately grab and maintain viewer attention. There are exceptions, of course, like when characters venture outdoors in scenic New Zealand (filling in for early 20th century Montana fairly well, I might add); these scenes bring with them a more noticeable boost to fine detail, texture, and depth. Yet the film's all-digital pedigree, with no apparent grain added, gives The Power of the Dog a somewhat flat and processed appearance whose slight lack of density is handled more smoothly by the 4K disc; combined with the lack of HDR enhancement to bolster its color saturation and shadow details, what we're left here is a solid but not overwhelmingly showy presentation that nonetheless still looks good... and more importantly better than its streaming counterpart by a decent margin. It's a fine enough effort to get the job done and, though the 4K wins in a direct comparison for obvious reasons, this Blu-ray carries its own weight surprisingly well so casual fans likely won't be missing out on much here.

The Power of the Dog Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Dolby Atmos mix -- which, as always, unfolds to a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core if your receiver doesn't support the newer format -- is similarly good but rarely pushes any limits, offering a satisfying mix of front-forward dialogue and sound effects and rear-channel ambience. The subject matter and landscape obviously doesn't make a case for heavy use of the height channels: there's likewise some environmental activity here, such as wind and other weather, as well as decent use of overhead during Phil's brief banjo playing on the second floor, but other uses are more stylistic like the occasional presence of Jonny Greenwood's sporadic but noticeable score. (It's a somewhat effective effort from the celebrated composer, yet some themes and moments were more distracting than anything else.) Again, a solid effort overall but those who don't have Atmos-enabled equipment won't be missing out on a great deal.

Optional English subtitles are included during the main feature only.

The Power of the Dog Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Criterion's Blu-ray of The Power of the Dog features a handful of well-made interviews and featurettes that add helpful context to certain aspects of the film. Really surprised we didn't get a director's commentary, though.

• Behind the Scenes with Jane Campion (17:31) - This 2021 interview with the director also includes a few clips of candid on-set rehearsal footage; it's very nicely shot and includes comments about Thomas Savage's original novel, its personal themes, working with the cast and crew, locations, and more.

• Reframing the West (28:14) - This more broad-minded piece, likewise recorded in 2021, includes comments from director Jane Campion; producer Tanya Seghatchian; actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee; cinematographer Ari Wegner; film editor Peter Sciberras; costume designer Kirsty Cameron; makeup artist Noriko Watanabe; and supervising sound editor Rober Mackenzie.

• The Women Behind "The Power of the Dog" (23:30) - This 2021 roundtable interview -- which was recorded in an actual room and not as a Zoom call, unlike most group chats that year -- features director Jane Campion, producer Tanya Seghatchian, cinematographer Ari Wegner, and actor Kirsten Dunst, who are joined by filmmaker Tamara Jenkins to discuss their time working together to make The Power of the Dog.

• Anatomy of a Score (13:25) - A 2021 audio interview with director Jane Campion and composer Jonny Greenwood, who talk about his work on The Power of the Dog while clips from the film play; it's divided into individual instrument themes (cello, guitar, banjo, piano, etc.) with a few minutes devoted to each.

• Annie Proulx (13:18) - The lone 2022 supplement in the bunch, this candid interview with novelist Annie Proux (author of Brokeback Mountain) includes her comments on The Power of the Dog, Thomas Savage's 1967 novel on which it was based, and her correspondence with Savage while she was living in Montana.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:09) - Also available online here.

The Power of the Dog Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog, her first film since 2009's Bright Star, is a revisionist Western with a small cast but plenty of tension created by its cold-blooded central figure. It's a slow-burn drama and picks up steam in the home stretch, yet those not invested in its characters by that point may not find it to be worth the wait. There are too many caveats to consider it a recommended blind buy but Criterion's Blu-ray, like their more elaborate 4K combo pack, offers solid A/V merits and a nice selection of extras. A decent buy for fans; newcomers should stream it first.